Cosmic Pro Carbon UST Wheel

In the past, we were very hesitant to pull the trigger on a set of carbon clinchers. After all, we've all heard the horror stories of rims delaminating and tires exploding on descents due to excessive heat buildup and resin softening. That, along with notoriously poor braking especially in the wet, was enough to keep them off of our bikes for everyday hoop duties. We can even remember a certain gran fondo that banned their use during the ride because of safety concerns. And as for racing wheels, we're a bit stubborn there and prefer the feel and weight savings that carbon tubulars afford, albeit with all the additional hassles. Without having to manufacture a bead hook to hold the tire in place, grams are dropped and since glue, not said bead hook, are keeping the tire on the rim, that virtually eliminates the possibility of a blowout. Those days of thinking go out the window with the Cosmic Pro Carbon UST Wheel from Mavic, a wheelset we wouldn't hesitate to ride daily or race. Why the change of heart you ask? It addressed our major areas of concern, namely poor braking and rim reliability.

The key component to these lightweight and fast wheels are its 40mm UST carbon rims. Constructed of 3k carbon fiber and using a NACA-inspired rim shape, the profile minimizes turbulence and drag letting you go faster with less effort while remaining stable in crosswinds. Getting up to speed happens in an instant, thanks to its excellent lateral stiffness and low weight, and holding speed is much easier than on lower profile or alloy rims making it ideal for flat routes, mountain roads, or anything in between. The rims' beads are tightly controlled to specific dimensions and were developed in conjunction with the included Yksion UST tiers for an exact fit that makes install easy and works well on the open road.

Simply put, Mavic carbon rims have the best braking we've experienced with rim brake carbon rims thanks to iTgMAX. Short for Internal Glass Transition Temperature, the design consists of an inner rim bed finished with multiple layers of seamless carbon fiber, producing a one-piece rim contour with maximum strength as none of the carbon fibers are cut, and it possesses better heat management thanks to high temperature resins. Mavic finishes the brake track with laser machining, taking the surface right down to bare carbon, giving the pads better bite.

The included 25mm wide Yksion UST tires only sweeten the package offering impressive grip, longevity, and low rolling resistance thanks to its tubeless technology and 11 Storm rubber compound. The usual improved flat protection comes naturally, thanks to a splash of the included sealant and should you encounter a flat mid-ride and need to perform a road side repair, the tire easily comes off the rim and an inner tube can be installed.

The hubs are a typical Mavic affair with smooth spinning QRM sealed bearings that are doubled sealed to keep contaminates out so the hubs spin smoothly for years. The freehub uses its tried and true Force Transfer System Light using stainless steel inserts at critical areas to keep wear down and reliability high. The wheels ship with a tire sealant syringe, Mavic tire sealant, tubeless rim tape, BR301 quick-release skewers, carbon brake pads, UST valves and accessories, a user guide.